Sermons

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“The Party of The Year” — Matthew 22: 1-14


 

Oct. 12, 2014                                                              Text:  Matthew 22:1-14

 

Dear Friends in Christ,

 

Mealtimes are often filled with emotions.  Peter knows.  Sunday dinners with his mother, Ada, his father, Fred, and three siblings were always lively, relates Peter.  “On one occasion all of us except mother were in a silly mood, and we began requesting, in rhyme, items at the table.  ‘Please pass the meat, Pete.’  ‘May I have a potatah, Ada?’  ‘How about the salt, Walt.’  This went on for a while but then mom got fed up.  She stood up:  ‘Stop this nonsense right now.  I’d like to enjoy my dinner with some good conversation not this silly chatter.’  Then she sat down, still in a huff, turned to my father, and snapped, ‘Pass the bread, Fred.’”

You are cordially invited to . . .

“THE PARTY OF THE YEAR”

It was on Tuesday of Holy Week when Jesus spoke this, the third of his triad of parables about entrance into the Kingdom.  The king is planning his son’s royal wedding.  When the invitations went out, those invited came up with excuses based on possessions or purchases.

In our busy, consumer-oriented society it is easy to disdain invitations.  When we get invited to a party or dinner we may ask ourselves:  “Do I really need to go?  Will there be a problem if I don’t go?  Will I know people there?”  Those in the parable answered in all the wrong ways.

When we apply this parable to God’s inviting us to eternal fellowship with him, if we decline, there will be a problem.  In our times, ethics are perceived as individual and relative.  Many Americans do not accept God’s eternal values as absolute.  Yet they are.  The Lord’s patience eventually wears thin.  As a people we cannot continually turn our back on God and expect his blessing.  “For many are called, but few are chosen.” (v. 14)

Many are called, you know?  Jesus graphically portrays God as reaching out to people with his inviting grace.  God cared enough to search us out and bring us into His Kingdom with celebration and a feast.  We need to value those times we have in worship.  Our divine services are true foretastes of the eternal banquet.

All who choose to ignore our accountability to God cheapen God’s grace.  In fact grace is costly – it cost the life of God’s Son.  Dietrich Bonheoffer wrote:  “Grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ.  It is costly because it cost a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life.”  To be invited by God to feast at his table of divine grace is the ultimate honor for all human beings.

Welcome the invitation.  Don’t be put off because it is free.  This is not some late-night infomercial.  This comes freely to you because of Jesus covering the cost of your invitation.  Christ has risen and ascended to heaven to host the banquet of all banquets.  God values inviting anyone, even us.  That divine attitude can shape in us the same desire to invite all.

When you got up this morning, perhaps you hesitated for a moment whether you would come to worship or not.  It might be nice to sleep in, or veg out or pursue some other worldly endeavor.  But a small voice suggested you accept the invitation.  That was the Holy Spirit delivering Christ’s invitation to you.

 

Even in our more casual day and age, we know there are certain clothes required for certain situations.  When God the Father invites us to the wedding feast at which his Son will be the Bridegroom, he supplies us with the right thing to wear, the righteousness of Jesus given at our Baptism.  Clothed in Christ’s righteousness, we are ready for the Party of the Year.

Amen.

Sermon October 5, 2014 – Walking With Purpose (Eph 5:1-9)

October 5, 2014 – LWML Sunday                             Text:  Ephesians 5:1-9

 Dear Friends in Christ,

             Educators have done studies on how children spend their days at school – how many minutes spent reading at their desks, how many minutes spent going to the restroom or the drinking fountain, how many minutes sharpening their pencils and so on.  Down to the minute.  Down to a science.  Blocks of time devoted to all sorts of things you’d expect children to do in school.  Plus at least one activity we might not expect:  “walking with no purpose.”  That’s right:  “walking with no purpose.”  Studies have found that in a normal day, a very normal child will spend a certain number of minutes walking from here to there for no good reason.  Curious and interesting.

            We are children of God, and our lives as Christians are often described as a walk, as St. Paul does in our text today, our Epistle from Ephesians 5.  Are we walking with no purpose?  Paul exhorts us in our text to be . . .

“WALKING WITH PURPOSE”

            The fact is it’s not just schoolchildren who walk with no purpose.  People of all ages, spend their lives walking through life not really knowing what it is all about.  Paul calls this darkness in our text.  “For at one time, you were darkness.” (v. 8a)

            We live in a world of darkness.  People are entangled and enslaved by sin.  We can try to redefine it, excuse it, redecorate it, or hide it, but sin is at the bottom of what makes life and relationships difficult, hurtful, sick, and dying.  Trying to hide this darkness just brings about “deception” and “empty words.”  These things serve no purpose.  Paul lists some of them:  filthiness, crude joking, foolish talk, sexually impure, covetous.  These are all common in the world around us.  So common, but they serve no purpose.

            Sin can do that.  Because of sin, we use God’s name only to condemn others or justify ourselves.  Because of sin, we ignore or despise God’s Word and do not worship him.  Because of sin, our relationships with others – father and mother, husband and wife, parent and child, enemies and friends, co-workers and strangers – all these are disrupted and destroyed.  And none of these actions serve any meaningful purpose.  By nature, we are children of darkness with no purpose.

            Because we cannot free ourselves from this darkness, God in his mercy determined to save us.  His mercy shone like a beacon of light when he promised Adam and Eve a Savior from sin.  This light of salvation burned as hope in God’s people through the centuries until that light exploded like a supernova over Bethlehem when “the Word became flesh.” (John 1:14)  When life and death went at each other on the cross it looked like darkness was winning.  But the light of salvation could not be put out.  It was stronger than the darkness.  The reign of death was ended.

            Suddenly, we see things in a whole new way.  We see God for who he really is:  not distant or disinterested in our lives, but he is here, present, eager to have a relationship with each one of us.  That is what Jesus lets us see in his light.  God is not angry and keeping score on how well we keep his Commandments, but forgiving, not counting our sins against us, because Jesus took them upon himself on the cross.  That is what we see as children of light.  “Now you are light in the Lord.”

            As “light in the Lord” we are now able to “walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true.)” (vs. 8b-9)  We now have a purpose.  We walk in repentance and faith.  We walk in forgiveness.  We walk with a purpose to invite the world to the glorious light of salvation in Jesus Christ.

            Today is Lutheran Women’s Missionary League Sunday.  Lutheran women who also walk with a purpose.  These daughters of Zion and many others in our congregation give pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, and dollars in the interest of missions.  Combine ours with the rest of Synod and some wonderful mission projects are funded.  Walking with purpose.

            When we all with faithful obedience, study the Word of God, when we dwell together in unity, when we faithfully hold the confession of the church in this perverse generation, when we speak faith, when we love one another, fragrant offerings and sacrifices rise up to the nostrils of our merciful, holy, and gracious God and Father.  Walking with purpose.

            Every work of the saints of God from quilt sewing to helping with a funeral dinner all serves a purpose for the greater good of Christianity.  Christ’s kingdom is extended in these works of mercy.

            May the Holy Spirit lead you out of darkness into His marvelous light.  Walking in the light of Christ is to walk as children of God with purpose.

                                                                                                                                    Amen.

September 28, 2014 Sermon

 

September 28, 2014                                        Text:  Philippians 2:1-4, 14-18

Dear Friends in Christ,

            Don’t fall out of your pew on this one – but I watch a lot of sports.  I know you are shocked, but it is true.  One thing I hear the announcers talk about periodically is that a certain player is “a difference maker.”  They are conveying to the audience that some players have skills and abilities that can change a game.  They run faster, hit harder, pitch better than their fellow players.  They make a difference for their team, which usually leads to winning.

            How about you?  Do you consider yourself a difference maker?  Not in the sports arena but in the life arena.  Do you like to just sit on the sidelines and complain about people and the world?  Or do you like to get in the game, use your God-given skills and abilities to further advance the cause of Christianity down the field?

            This morning Paul is addressing his brothers and sisters in Christ at Philippi.  A congregation founded by Paul and one he still watched over.  He knew the challenges they were up against.  But he had a game plan they could each be a part of.  This morning so can you . . .

“BEING A DIFFERENCE MAKER”

            Paul knew what his fellow Christians were battling.  He said they were “in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation.” (v. 15b)  Don’t we hear the same words being used about the times we live in?  Crooked in the generation that has left the straight paths of the Lord.  Crooked in mind and in heart and thus in acts means lying thought.  Truth is straight but lies are crooked or twisted.

            Have you heard or seen this one?  It is called “the blasphemy challenge” and it is used by atheists to further their agenda and to expose the “crock that is Christian doctrine.”  They want their followers to blaspheme against the Holy Spirit and this verse from Mark 3:29:  “But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin.”  This is how twisted things are.  People who supposedly don’t believe in the Trinity want to sin against it.  But, of course, they wouldn’t call it a sin.

            In the political arena two agendas have been advanced.  Marijuana and same-sex marriage.  Having grown up in the 70’s and 80’s I didn’t think I would see a day when marijuana was looked on more favorably than smoking.  I don’t want to argue the medicinal purposes but we know this will lead to abuses as we are already seeing.

            When it comes to same-sex marriage and parenting I read this interesting quote:  “You encourage a consumerist model of parenting.  It encourages the idea that individuals have a right to a kid, instead of viewing children as a gift and a great blessing.”

            In this crooked and twisted generation we live in a “social revolution that attempts to define what you’re allowed to think and do in the public square.”

            So, how do you and I make a difference?  First, Paul’s advice:  “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (vs. 3-4)  These admonitions all come because of our connection to Christ.

            Gandhi had this interesting quote during his lifetime:  “I don’t refuse Christianity because of the Christian Scriptures but because of Christians.”  Ouch!  We can’t be self-righteous but we must make an honest assessment of ourselves.  We can be crooked in thoughts and deeds.  We can become twisted in our thinking if it fits an agenda or manipulates a situation.  We are not immune to the garbage that is coming our way, day by day by day.  And then some of us don’t want to be difference-makers because we think there isn’t anything that can stop the tide that is sweeping over us.  Satan and sin and the world win when we become apathetic.  Talk about the sidelines, some don’t want to leave the locker room.

            But leave it we must.  Contact with the world cannot be avoided.  Ever and ever we must have it impressed upon us that we are different from the world, must be told what is the matter with the world, and what we have that makes us different.  Look at Paul’s encouragement, “Holding fast to the word of life.” (16a)  Paul labored because of his confidence in the Word of God.

            Do you have that same confidence in the Word?  As Scripture says, “These words…are life.”  They increase our spiritual life.  This Word called us in the waters of Holy Baptism.  This Word strengthens are daily walk.  Holding fast to the Word of Life continuously reminds us of the forgiveness and life we have in Christ.  This Word of Life is power as the Holy Spirit helps us to become difference makers.  The Word of Life in Holy Communion can make the weak strong.  It is a spiritual boost for the days ahead.

            As the text tells us, we are to “shine as lights in the world.” (v. 15c)  Even imperfect Christians shine.  When Jesus spoke to his imperfect disciples he did not use the future tense:  “You shall be the light of the world,” but the present:  “You are the light of the world.” (Matt. 5:14)  And you are you know?  The littlest things you do for others can make a difference.  The big things you shout from the rooftops can make a difference.  As with a ballplayer, God has gifted you with certain gifts and abilities that start to make the crooked straight, and the twisted start to untangle.

            The social scientist I quoted earlier on same-sex parenting had this to say later in his presentation.  France is proof “of signs that people are fed up with the fruits of the sexual revolution.  Human nature is reasserting itself.”

            Be faithful.  That is all that is asked of a difference maker.

                                                                                                                        Amen.